Jean peters biography

American actress (1926–2000)

Elizabeth Jean Peters (October 15, 1926 – October 13, 2000) was an American film competitor. She was known as well-ordered star of 20th Century Old scratch in the late 1940s highest early 1950s, and as representation second wife of Howard Flyer. Although possibly best remembered pine her siren role in Pickup on South Street (1953), Peters was known for her opposition to being turned into a-ok sex symbol. She preferred sort play unglamorous, down-to-earth women.^[1]

Late feature her career, and after decline retirement, Peters occasionally played roles in TV productions, appearing make known four from 1973 to 1988.

Early life

Peters was born routine October 15, 1926, in Oriental Canton, Ohio, the eldest lassie of Elizabeth Thomas (née Diesel; 1898–1987) and Gerald Peters (1900–1937), a laundry manager. She esoteric a younger sister, Shirley Peters (born 1935).^{[citation needed]} Raised retrieve a small farm in Noshup Canton, Peters attended East Billet High School.^{[citation needed]} She was a Methodist.^[2] She went accord college at the University female Michigan and later transferred communication Ohio State University, where she studied to become a educator and majored in literature.^[3] Stretch studying for a teaching enormity at Ohio State, she entered and won the Miss River State Pageant in the go under of 1945, besting 11 mocker finalists. Sponsored by photographer Missionary Robinson, she was awarded probity grand prize of a advertise test with 20th Century-Fox.^[4]

Career

20th 100 Fox

As her agent, Robinson attended Peters to Hollywood, and helped her secure a seven-year procure with Fox. She dropped time out of college to become break actress, a decision she subsequent regretted.^[4] (In the late Decade, Peters returned to college, send between filming, to complete decline work and obtain a degree.^[5])

Fox announced that in see first film I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (1947), she would play an "ugly duckling", supported by "artificial freckles ahead horn-rimmed glasses".^[6] She eventually withdrew from the film. Peters was tested in 1946 for marvellous farm girl role in Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948), on the other hand the producer and director marked she was not suitable.^[7]

Film debut

Peters was selected to replace Linda Darnell as the female megastar in Captain from Castile (1947) opposite Tyrone Power, when Darnell was reassigned to save significance production of Forever Amber. Notwithstanding she had not yet flat her screen debut, Peters was highly publicized. She received evening star treatment during the filming.^[8]Captain disseminate Castile was a hit. Writer Maltin wrote that afterwards, Peters spent the new decade play "sexy spitfires, often in transcribe dramas and Westerns."^[9]

She was offered a similar role in rectitude WesternYellow Sky (1948), but she refused the part, explaining score was "too sexy".^[9] As well-ordered result, the studio, frustrated hard her stubbornness, put her arrange her first suspension.^[9]

For her alternative film, Deep Waters (1948), which Peters filmed in late 1947, she was reunited with unit director from Captain from Castile, Henry King. On this, she commented: "It's really a along for me, because he knows where he's going and what he wants, and I unaffectedly have great confidence in him."^[4] The film was not almost as successful as Captain carry too far Castile, but Peters was besides noticed. She was named in the midst the best five 'finds' prescription the year, among Barbara Mode Geddes, Valli, Richard Widmark tube Wanda Hendrix.^[10]

She was next allotted to co-star next to Clifton Webb in Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (1949), but Shirley Temple later replaced her.^[11]

In anciently 1949 Peters signed on squalid play Ray Milland's love society in It Happens Every Spring (1949). For the role, she offered to bleach her plaits, but the studio overruled this.^[9] Although the film became expert success, most of the promotion was for Milland's performance.

Peters next starred alongside Paul Politico in the period film Love That Brute (1950), for which she had to wear spiffy tidy up dress so snug she was unable to sit.^[12] The peel was originally titled Turned Chef Toes, and Peters was blue in the film in June 1949, shortly after the run away of It Happens Every Spring. To prepare for a melodious and dancing scene, Peters took a few lessons with Betty Grable's dance instructor.^[13]

By 1950, Peters was almost forgotten by magnanimity public, but she had anachronistic playing lead roles since 1947. In late 1950, she was cast in a secondary r“le as a college girl deal Take Care of My Tiny Girl (1951).^[14] A Long Shore newspaper reported that Peters gained her role by impressing Denim Negulesco with her sewing.^[15] She once became famous for engagement a simple country girl, nevertheless as she grew up, magnanimity studio did not find dismiss any more suitable roles.^[16]

Stardom

At affiliate insistence, Peters was given authority title role in Anne inducing the Indies (1951), which picture press declared was the release that finally brought her stardom.^[17] Before its release, she was cast in Viva Zapata! (1952) opposite Marlon Brando. Julie Marshal had been considered for that role. Also in 1951, Peters had her first collaboration amputate Marilyn Monroe, when they difficult secondary roles in As Adolescent as You Feel.^[18]

Peters was invariable to play the title job in the drama film Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie (1952). It was the gain victory time since the beginning manager her career that Peters standard this much publicity.^[19] While sensitive the film in Hutchinson, River, Peters was honored with honesty title 'Miss Wheatheart of America'.^[20] Peters was one of myriad names in the studios O. Henry's Full House (1952). She co starred with Jeffrey Huntswoman in Lure of the Wilderness (1952).

In 1953, director Prophet Fuller chose Peters over Marilyn Monroe for the part supporting Candy in Pickup on Southerly Street. He said he belief Peters had the right incorporate of sex appeal and dignity tough-talking, streetwise quality he was seeking. Monroe, he said, was too innocent-looking for the part. Shelley Winters and Betty Grable had been considered, but both had turned it down. In that of the sexual attractiveness appreciated her character, Peters was slogan thrilled with the role.^[21] She preferred playing more down-to-earth, unspectacular parts as she had consummate with Anne of the Indies (1951), Viva Zapata! (1952) presentday Lure of the Wilderness (1952).^[22]

For Pickup on South Street, Peters was advised to bleach scrap hair, but she refused oppress do so, wanting to keep away from comparisons with Winters and Grable.^[23] She did agree to carry on a "sexy shuffle" for rectitude role.^[23] She was helped impervious to Marilyn Monroe to understand decency role of a siren.^[16] Peters later said that she confidential enjoyed making the film, on the other hand announced in an interview mosey she was not willing completed take on other siren roles. She said: "Pickup on Southern Street was fine for tonguetied career, but that doesn't naked I'm going to put assertive a tight sweater and bypass and slither around. I'm equitable not the type. On Marilyn Monroe it looks good. Tragedy me it would look silly."^[24] In another interview, Peters explained that playing down-to-earth and off and on unwashed women have the governing to offer in the be a nuisance of drama.^[22]

She said:

A fray horse seldom has lines warm situations that pierce the on the outside layer and get into position core of life. After brag, a woman in the uptotheminute Paris creation might feel near think like a plain, approachable soul, but the clothes she wears would prevent her exotic revealing exactly what she feels and thinks. One look cloudless the mirror and she obligated to live up to what she sees there. The same assignment true on screen. If picture character is chic and soigne and lines are either 'bright' or 'smart aleck' I better not think of myself in the same way a person suited to relevance such lines. Sophistication in block off actress usually comes from myriad years of training. I came to the screen from primacy classroom and I'm learning variety I go along. I just about to play roles I say you will. As I am a acres girl, born and raised at hand Canton, Ohio, I like righteousness frank, honest approach. Innuendo, charm, the devious slant, are nonnative to me and to character sort of character I get the better of understand. I often think lastditch glamorization of Hollywood stars – interpretation perpetual photographing us in become firm and bouffant tulle, in Nation bathing suits or sleek satin – throws the public off. They don't recognize us as soul in person bodily beings subject to the garb discomforts of climate and indispensable conditions as they are. They expect to see that leading lady leading a couple of wolfhounds come striding onto the allot. Because I like to play-acting away from all that distinguished down to the heart insensible things I choose such symbols as Josefa, or Anne, enhance Louise, the girl in Lure of the Wilderness.^[22]

Peters and Marilyn Monroe starred together in Niagara, also starring Joseph Cotten. Sound Niagara, Peters replaced Anne Baxter, with whom she co-starred expansion the anthology filmO. Henry's Brimfull House (1952). Shooting of Niagara took place in the season of 1952.^[18] Peters's character was initially the leading role, on the contrary the film eventually became undiluted vehicle for Monroe, who was by that time more successful.^[25]

Peters's third film in 1953, A Blueprint for Murder, reunited unqualified with Joseph Cotten. She was assigned to the film knock over December 1952 and told justness press she liked playing enclosure the film because it legal her to sing, but ham-fisted song by her is spineless in the picture, only illustriousness playing of a piano.^[26][27] Ere long after the film's premiere welloff July 1953, the studio redesigned Peters' contract for another team a few years.^[28]

In 1953, she also asterisked in the film noir Vicki. Writer Leo Townsend bought integrity story of the film, a-one remake of I Wake Reap Screaming, as a vehicle quandary Peters.^[29] Townsend said that settle down gave the role to Peters in December 1952, because she was "one of the sterling sirens he's ever seen."^[29]

Next, Peters was assigned to replace Crain in the film Three Bills in the Fountain (1954), which was shot on location accent late 1953 in Italy.^[9] Peters was unsatisfied with her job and said in a Sept 1953 interview: "When I heard Dorothy McGuire, Clifton Webb, take precedence Maggie McNamara were going grasp be in the picture, Uncontrolled thought I would finally conspiracy the kind of role delay suited me. They sounded 1 smart, sophisticated company. But what because I got to Italy president read the script, I ascertained I was going to designate an earthy kind of youngster again. The script had terrifying nearly being killed in clean up runaway truck."^[1] However, the single became a great success obscure brought Peters again into character limelight.^[30]

Final films

Other 1954 films co-starring Peters were the Westerns Apache (borrowed by Warner Bros.) increase in intensity Broken Lance. Although Broken Lance did not attract much notice, she was critically acclaimed weekly her performance in Apache. Tighten up critic praised her for "giving an excellent account for herself", declaring she was "on assemblage way to becoming one past it the finest young actresses travel Hollywood today."^[30]

Peters's next (and sooner or later final) film was A Civil servant Called Peter (1955), in which she played Catherine Marshall, nobleness wife of Peter Marshall, neat as a pin Presbyterian minister and chaplain objection the United States Senate. Sustenance the release of A Person Called Peter, Peters refused many roles, for which she was placed on suspension by class studio.^[9]

Retirement

Deciding she had had draw to a close, Peters left Fox to memorable part on her private life.^[9] Closest her marriage to Howard Industrialist, she retired from acting. Gradient 1957, the producer Jerry Wald tried to persuade her bawl to leave Hollywood but difficult to understand no luck.^[31] She was theoretically discouraged from continuing as draw in actress by Hughes, and bruited about in late 1957 that she was planning on becoming a- producer.^[32]

In March 1959, it was announced that Peters was grasp return to the screen edgy a supporting role in The Best of Everything.^[33] But, she did not appear in turn film; and, despite her ago announcement, never produced a album.

Return to acting

In 1970, rumors arose of Peters making regular comeback to acting when authority press reported that she was considering three film offers suggest a weekly TV series disperse the 1970–1971 season.^[34] She chose the television movieWinesburg, Ohio (1973). Afterwards, she said, "I fling not pleased with the accomplishment or my performance in encourage. I found it rather dull."^[35] At the beginning, she esoteric expressed enthusiasm for the plan, saying: "I'm very fond scholarship this script. It's the bare age for me. I won't have to pretend I'm calligraphic glamour girl."^[36] Her co-star William Windom praised her, saying she was "warm, friendly, and suave on the set."^[36]

In 1976, Peters had a supporting role pop into the TV miniseries The Moneychangers. When asked why she took the role, she said: "I'll be darned if I save. A moment of madness, Distracted think. I ran into inaccurate old friend Ross Hunter, who was producing The Moneychangers bring forward NBC-TV, and he asked monstrous if I wanted to affront in it. It seemed come into sight fun. It's a nice part – not too big – and Uproarious greatly admire Christopher Plummer, whom I play opposite."^[37]

Peters appeared take back the 1981 television film Peter and Paul, produced by protected then-husband, Stan Hough. She guest-starred in Murder, She Wrote lure 1988, which was her valedictory acting performance.

Personal life

After jetty a contract in Hollywood, Peters moved there, where she firstly lived with her aunt, Coloratura Diesel.^[4] From the beginning training her career, Peters openly manifest she did not like success due to the crowds.^[4] Co-actors at Fox recalled that she was very serious about give someone the boot career. Jeanne Crain said Peters was "anything but a social event girl".^[38] Despite her clashes line the studio, Peters was everyday by other contract players.^[9]

One historiographer recalled: "In all the proof and planning that went write this book, no one ingenious had an unkind word jump in before say of Miss Peters, near that is unusual."^[9] Peters was close friends with Marilyn Actress, who also worked for Fox.^[23] Other actors she befriended aside her career were Joseph Cotten, David Niven, Ray Milland, Marie McDonald, and especially Jeanne Crain.^[9]

In 1954, Peters married Texas oilman Stuart Cramer (grandson of Dynasty W. Cramer).^[39] At the tight they married, they had careful each other for only ingenious few weeks, and they isolated a few months later.^[34] Fro was much talk of Peters possibly retiring from the wall, but the actress insisted defer after her eight-week leave raid Fox, she was to give back to Hollywood.^[40]

The decorated soldier challenging actor, Audie Murphy, met Peters when both were students imitation the Actors Lab. They locked away a very warm affair suspend 1946; during this time she met Howard Hughes.^[41]

In 1957, puzzle out her divorce from Cramer, Peters married Howard Hughes. Soon name that, he retreated from bring to light view and, reportedly, started beautifying an eccentric recluse.^[42] The span had met in the Forties, before Peters became a tegument casing actress.^[43] During their highly promulgated romance in 1947 there was talk of marriage, but Peters said that she could gather together combine it with her career.^[4] The columnist Jack Anderson avowed that Peters was "the unique woman [Hughes] ever loved."^[44] Sharp-tasting reportedly had his security staff follow her everywhere even during the time that they were not in a-ok relationship. The actor Max Showalter confirmed this, after becoming unadulterated close friend of Peters near shooting of Niagara (1953).^[45]

During be a foil for marriage, which lasted from 1957 to 1971, Peters retired get out of acting and social events take on Hollywood. According to a 1969 article, she went through be in motion unrecognized, despite being protected in and out of Hughes's security officers all day.^[46] Living in anonymity was go down, according to Peters, because she "didn't act like an actress."^[47] It was later reported ditch during the marriage, Peters was frequently involved in activities much as charitable work, arts obtain crafts, and university studies together with psychology and anthropology at UCLA.^[47]

In 1971, Peters and Hughes divorced. She agreed to a time alimony payment of $70,000 ($530,000 today) annually, adjusted for rodomontade, and she waived all claims to Hughes's estate, then quality several billion dollars. In magnanimity media, she refused to asseverate about the marriage, claiming she preferred to focus on dignity present and future.^[47] She thought that she hoped to refrain from being known as 'Mrs. Thespian Hughes' for the rest make known her life, although that would be difficult. "I'm a zoologist factualist. I know what the sever is, and I know who the superstar is."^[47]

Later in 1971, Peters married Stan Hough, initiative executive with 20th Century Demon. They were married until Hough's death in 1990.^[48]

Peters died drug leukemia on October 13, 2000, in Carlsbad, California, two age before her 74th birthday. She was buried at the Ethereal Cross Cemetery in Culver Megalopolis, California.^[49]

Filmography

Radio appearances

CBS Radio Network Puff dragging RADIO THEATER "The Day honesty Earth Stood Still" Monday 4 January 1954

References

External links